Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Redock Orange’

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;Redock Orange&#39; characterized by its medium sized blooms with orange ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

RELATED CULTIVARS

‘Redock Orange’ is related to ‘Redock Dark’ (pending Ser. No. 09/910,029) and ‘Redock Salmon’ (pending Ser. No. 09/910,027). These varieties are all mutants of the original ‘Redock’ (unpatented).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Redock Orange’ is a product of a breeding and selection program that had the objective of finding color mutants of ‘Redock’. The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant that is a natural occuring sport of a parent Chrysanthemum named ‘Redock’ (unpatented). A comparison with parent Chrysanthemum ‘Redock’ is also made in this application. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in September, 1999 by Rob Noodelijk in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, Holland. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Redock Orange’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in November 1999 in Rijsenhout, Holland.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum bearing medium sized blooms with orange ray-florets and yellow-green disc florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the foliage of the cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of Chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, Holland in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days, the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 47 days. After the long day period to flowering, growth retardants were applied 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. This new variety produces medium sized blooms with orange ray-florets and yellow-green disc-florets blooming on the plant for 4 weeks. This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations; however, the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Redock Orange’ can be planted without assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps) between week 50 and week 40 of the next year under greenhouse conditions in Holland. With assimilation light (minimum level 2500 lux) it can be planted year round under greenhouse conditions in Holland.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Redock Orange’ is ‘Redock’. When ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Orange’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed. The difference of ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Orange’ is the orange ray-floret color for which characteristics ‘Redock Orange’ has been selected out of ‘Redock’. All other characteristics of ‘Redock’ and ‘Redock Orange’ are similar. From other commercial varieties ‘Orange Reagan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769) and ‘Orange Elite Reagan’ are the most similar. The differences between ‘Orange Reagan’, ‘Orange Elite Reagan’ and ‘Redock Orange’ are (1) Flower form and color. The ray-florets of ‘Redock Orange’ are more upright, less broad, more pointed and more concave. (2) Vigour. Under the same circumstances the plants of ‘Redock Orange’ are 20 cm longer. (3) Response time. The response time of ‘Redock Orange’ is shorter. (4) The disc-floret size of ‘Redock Orange’ is smaller. (5) Foliage size and color. The foliage of ‘Redock Orange’ is bigger and more yellow-green.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Redock Orange’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 edition.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of CULTIVAR ‘Redock Orange’ Bud Size Small, cross-section 0.7 cm height 0.9 cm Outside color Greyed-orange 170 C Involucral bracts 3 rows, length 8 mm, width 3 mm Involucral bracts among disc- Not present florets Involucral bracts color Green 147 B Bloom Type Single Height High Size Medium Fully expanded 7.0 cm Number of blooms per single stem Average of 14 Seeds Not produced Performance (blooming period) 4 weeks Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum Color Center of the flower (disc-florets) Immature yellow-green 144 A Mature yellow-green 151 C Color of upper surface of the Orange 26 B majority of the ray-florets Color of the lower surface of the Yellow-orange 16 B majority of the ray-florets Tonality from distance A spray mum with orange flowers and a yellow-green disc Discoloration to color To color yellow-orange 16 A Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 26-28 Cross-section Strongly concave Longitudinal axis of majority Reflexing Length of corolla tube Short Ray-floret length 3.3 cm Ray-floret width 1.0 cm Ratio length/width Medium Shape of tip Pointed, very occasionally round Disc florets Disc diameter 0.8-1.0 cm Distribution of disc florets Numerous, clearly visible at all stages of flowering Shape Tubular Color Yellow-green 144 A Receptacle shape Conical raised Reproductive Organs Stamen (present in disc florets Thin 3 mm in length only) Stamen color Yellow-green 144 B Pollen No pollen present Pollen color Not applicable Styles (present in both ray and disc Thin florets) Style color Yellow-green 144 B Style length 4 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 144 B Stigma width 2 mm Ovaries Enclosed in calyx Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Very vigorous Height 125-135 cm Internodes 2.5-3.0 cm Spray formation Corymbiform Stem color Yellow-green 147 B Stem strength Medium Stem brittleness Present Stem anthocyanin coloration Absent Peduncle length Near the top 16 cm, near the middle 23 cm, near the bottom 28 cm Peduncle color Green 147 B Peduncle, attachment Brittle Peduncle, angle with stem Small, 30° C. Flowering response (photo- 47 days periodic controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color Upper side yellow-green 147 A Under side green 138 B Size large; length 12.0-14.0 cm width 7.0-8.0 cm Quantity (number per single stem) 30-34 Shape Ovate and deeply lobed Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Ribs and veins upper side Ribs and veins well developed Ribs and veins under side Ribs and veins well developed Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Lobed Shape of base of sinus between Round lateral lobes Margin of sinus between lateral Converging lobes Shape of base Rounded Apex Mucronate

TABLE 2 Differences with the comparison Varieties ‘Orange ‘Redock ‘Orange Elite Orange’ ‘Redock’ Reagan’ Reagan’ Ray-floret color Orange 26 Purple 75 Greyed- Yellow- B C Orange Orange 169 A 20 B Flower height High High Low Low Cross-section of ray- Strongly Strongly Flat Flat floret concave concave Vigour Very Very Vigorous Vigorous vigorous vigorous Plant height 125- 125- 100- 105- 135 cm 135 cm 125 cm 130 cm 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 